Chest Waders for Launching?

Little Rascal

Little Rascal

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Has anyone tried cheap chest waders for launching trailersailers?

I've stopped caring about looking stylish now I have a fin keeler!

I have no idea what to look for though... any ideas? Are the cheapy ones durable enough for occaisional use?
 
Yes, I have used them for launching the dinghy off a somewhat exposed beach - I was fed up with always having wet trousers! The only down side is that you either need to pop them back in the car or hang them up on the boat as soon as you board, they have no grip on a wet deck.

Rob.
 
TQA said:
Chest waders are dammed dangerous things IMHO!

Try lying down in some water, allow the waders to fill up, then try and stand up again.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOME HELP AROUND WHEN YOU DO THIS.
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Not if you wear the belt supplied with them. I fell over at night whilst fly fishing for seatrout and floated down the river Dart for 1/2 mile until I found a place to get out. I'm still here to tell the tale but that's another story.
 
I got a cheap set off eBay for launching a friend's RIB. Also came in handy as protection against flying slime when pressure-washing KS after lift-out! Seem fine; only downside is they're rather tight round the thighs, and the boots are quite hard rubber/plastic that would be uncomfortable to walk any distance (but who wants to go hiking in rubber trousers anyway?)

Pete
 
TQA said:
Chest waders are dammed dangerous things IMHO!

Try lying down in some water, allow the waders to fill up, then try and stand up again.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOME HELP AROUND WHEN YOU DO THIS.
Click to expand...

I dragged a guy out the ogin when I were a mere nipper of a lad aged 16 when cod lining off the Lincs coast.. 60 year old fella doing the same 50 yds down the beach got in to trouble 30 yds out, a few waves over the top of the chesties I presume and he was inverted.. only noticed him as his chesties were bright yellow so no idea how long he'd been like that.. waded out, dragged him ashore, pumped / thumped his chest and blew some air in his lungs and he coughed up half the north sea springing back to life... bitterly cold so reckon that saved his life.

don't wear them myself much for that reason but happy to do so on a launch ramp or more accurately 'was' happy to do so until some scroat nicked my lightweight rather expensive pair of fly fishing breathable waders from the dockside last year:mad:
 
TQA said:
Chest waders are dammed dangerous things IMHO!

Try lying down in some water, allow the waders to fill up, then try and stand up again.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOME HELP AROUND WHEN YOU DO THIS.
Click to expand...

Ditto.........I am a Carp angler and sometimes this requires getting into the water and chest waders are not an option imo as they are dangerous.

On one lake I use in France an angler was found drowned as a result of tripping and the waders filling with water, making it impossible for him to surface.
 
ChrisE said:
Not if you wear the belt supplied with them. I fell over at night whilst fly fishing for seatrout and floated down the river Dart for 1/2 mile until I found a place to get out. I'm still here to tell the tale but that's another story.
Click to expand...

This statement proves, not disproves the point. It could have been a totally different outcome and very easily so.
 
taz said:
This statement proves, not disproves the point. It could have been a totally different outcome and very easily so.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but I just don't agree. Chest waders are only as dangerous as thry are used or mis used

What you need to do is learn how to use and wear chestwaders. If you fall over you, don't panic and lie on your back and float, no more water will enter the waders. That is exactly what I did when I tumbled. Perfectly safe and under control. They are dangerous if you thrash about. Read Hugh Falkus "Seatrout fishing" for a full account of how to wear them safely.

If you are worried about this, do what thousands of salmon anglers do every day, wear a lifejacket.
 
I use these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370447490338&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Available at that price in all sizes.

I've been in virtually up to their limit and they kept me dry launching and recovering my boat. Just need to buy a pair for Mrs PD so she can come in the water and help me next time.

I'm only expecting to use them twice a year, so they don't need to be posh and trendy, and these seem pretty robust material.

Just watch where you go and don't go in too deep and don't use them alone and you should be fine.
 
A cautionary tale

I used to wear chest-high waders to launch & recover my trailer sailer. One day I was recovering the boat and had gone ashore to don my waders and back the trailer down the slipway. I'd pulled the boat up with her forefoot grounded on the slip. Having backed the trailer into the water I then waded into the water to push the boat back into deeper water so she could be floated onto the trailer. I inadvertently stepped off the edge of the slipway and was immediately out of my depth - clinging onto the pulpit rail as the now-freed boat drifted up-river in deep water.

I tried to hoist myself aboard over the pulpit but my arms were at full stretch and I couldn't do it. While I struggled a wave slopped over the top of my waders. The pull on my arms became terrific. I shouted for help and a couple of men from the club launched an inflatable and paddled after me. When they reached me my fingers were almost straightening and my chin was in the water. They tried to haul me aboard the inflatable but there was no way. They had to support be by the arms while I struggled to squirm and kick my way out of the waders. Once they were off I climbed aboard light as a feather. The rail had cut into my fingers where I and a great weight of water had been suspended from it.

I never wore chest-high waders again.
 
I must admit that when I had trailable boats I used a dry suit for launch and recovery, mind you as I also sailed a laser it was not a psecial purchase and I still carry it with me on the yacht in case I need to go diving on the prop.
 
Yes indeed.

All warnings about waders need to be heeded, which is why I would not use them without a companion to give immediate assistance if they "flooded"

But the only alternative to waders is a wetsuit, or strip to your swiming trunks and wade in (a bit cold up here for that)
 
So in general, they're fine if you don't go in too deep & expect to lift yourself out, then?

I had a pair of thigh boots for walking out to my tidal mooring many years back. There was a lot of deep mud & the tide flooded fast so they were far better than a dinghy. It also meant I could walk ashore before the tide had fully receded.

Coz of the mud I used to hang them off the pushpit while I sailed to clean them off as I went.
 
Thanks chaps - particularly for flagging up the safety concerns - which I was unaware of.

I have managed her in shorts and booties, but that was on a familiar slip in summer...

Perhaps I'll use my wetsuit then, although I was hoping waders would reduce the faff a little.
 
taz said:
Ditto.........I am a Carp angler and sometimes this requires getting into the water and chest waders are not an option imo as they are dangerous.

On one lake I use in France an angler was found drowned as a result of tripping and the waders filling with water, making it impossible for him to surface.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but this is an old chestnut and completely without foundation, as far as I'm concerned. If you are in the water, the water inside your waders is the same density as the water outside - it can't drag you down. You can't invert, because your solid legs are heavier than your air-filled chest.

Try reading this: http://www.sexyloops.com/articles/killerwader.shtml

I've launched and retrieved for years in neoprene chesties without ever a moment of concern
 
Do you have access to a small dinghy to lay out the anchor & set up a temporary running mooring? Perhaps you could run a continuous line via an unused mooring bouy off the slipway?

Then you can have a bow & stern line brought ashore to allow you to pull the boat off the trailer & hold her in postion while you store the trailer.

For coming out, a stern anchor running moor & bow line ashore could be used to do something similar.
 
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